Sarawak Workers Party tries to deny Sng Chee Hua’s involvement

NOW I posted yesterday that former Julau MP Datuk Sng Chee Hua has come out of the political shadows (here) following the registration of the new Sarawak Workers Party (SWP).

Well, I guess I had forgotten that that’s not usually the way Sng operates.

He’s been working behind the scenes of political maneuvers for so long that really, he probably rather enjoys having others front things for him.

Even when he actually held party posts in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) and later Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), political observers would know that Sng has always been a fan of backroom deals.

He’s a politician through and through. Let’s give credit where credit is due!

Anyway, SWP pro tem president Dr Ong Lark Sai has come out in the media to say that Sng and his son Larry Sng — youth advisor in the Chief Minister’s Department and former Pelagus assemblyman — are not involved in the party.

“No, Datuk Sng and Larry are not in the picture. We are catering for the well-being of working class citizens. SWP is a ‘no’ race party,” Dr Ong is quoted as saying.

Despite the different surnames, Dr Ong is actually Sng’s relative as is current Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong, who just happens to be SWP pro tem deputy president.

Now Sng’s old parliamentary seat of Julau is definitely in a rural area.

And guess what? At the end of last month, during an event in Sarikei, Sng told of his eagerness to stand in the constituency again.

What was his inspiration? Lagong’s win in Pelagus!

He also added that he did not intend to go against the BN.

Ah, is the picture clearer for everyone now? Guess Sng is showing who the real tauke is …

The Borneo Post’s reports:

Sarawak Workers Party registered

New party in a dither over political alliance but likely to pose direct threat to PRS.

By Churchill Edward

KUCHING: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) whose registration was approved by the Home Ministry two days ago seems to be undecided on its alliance in the coming general election.

The newly registered party’s protem president Dr Ong Lark Sai initially said SWP would be Barisan Nasional (BN) friendly but admitted that SWP would have to take on BN in the parliamentary constituencies where it would be fielding candidates.

Sounding somewhat flustered when asked on the party’s leaning Dr Ong said, “I am very busy. We will study the seats on case to case basis. We probably target rural areas.”

According to recent news reports the promoters of the party had indicated it would go head to head against BN component Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) in the election.

The clearest indication of a collision course between SWP and PRS was Dr Ong’s admission that independent Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong was the party’s pro-tem deputy president.

George is a cousin of veteran politician Dato Sng Chee Hua and uncle to the state’s Special Youth Advisor Larry Sng.

The elder Sng was one of founders of PRS while his son later became one of the party leaders but things turned sour along the way and they are both no longer with the party.

It is well known in the political circle that there is no love lost between Dato Sng and PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing.

However, Dr Ong brushed aside speculations that Dato Sng and his son, were involved in promoting SWP.

“No, Datuk Sng and Larry are not in the picture. We are catering for the well being of working class citizens. SWP is a ‘no’ race party,” said Dr Ong.

He said the official launching of SWP would be held soon but indicated that it would most likely not be held here.

Apart from disclosing George’s status in the party, Dr Ong declined to comment further on the line up of the party.

Lagong when contacted also confirmed SWP’s registration had been approved by the Home Ministry.

“We will treat every opponent in the same way. Similarly if the new party wish to oppose us, we will fight them,” said Dr Rundi.

State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-chairman See Chee How who is also Batu Lintang assemblyman congratulated George and his followers for the registration of SWP.

See did not think that SWP would pose a serious threat to BN saying, “As a new party which is set up barely a few months before election, it can hardly be a threat to BN.”

The PKR vice-chairman saw SWP more of a ploy to disrupt Pakatan Rakyat’s plans for the election.

“However, its approval on the eve of the General Election is obviously intended by the BN to spoil or shatter Pakatan Rakyat’s chance of winning in certain rural and semi-rural constituencies,” he said.

Masing and PRS secretary-general Datuk Wlfred Rata Nissom could not be reached for their comments.

Sng keen to contest in Julau in next polls (From March 31, 2012)

SARIKEI: Datuk Sng Chee Hua yesterday expressed his keenness to contest in the Julau parliamentary seat which he once represented.

Sng indicated his keenness to make a political comeback in Julau at a gathering with about 100 people from the constituency at a restaurant here yesterday.

The seat is presently held by Dato Joseph Salang of PRS.

The reason he gave for making such a move was to offer the people better service, stressing that his intention was not to contest against the Barisan Nasional (BN).

He went on to explain that his move was motivated by the victory of George Lagong in the Pelagus seat in the last state election.